bloodrayne
01-05-2005, 08:07 AM
Teen May Testify Against Brother In Mother's Decapitation Killing
Santa Ana, California - A Riverside teenager charged with his older half brother in "The Sopranos"-inspired decapitation killing of their mother may testify against the now-22-year-old brother.
The headless and handless body of Jane Bautista, 41, was dumped in the Cleveland National Forest two years ago and the case captured national headlines because the brothers said the gruesome killing was inspired by an episode of "The Sopranos."
Matthew B. Montejo, who was a 15-year-old sophomore at Martin Luther King High School when he was arrested in January 2003, could be a key witness in the case against his half brother Jason V. Bautista, a prosecutor said.
"He may wind up testifying," Orange County Deputy District Attorney Michael Murray said. He wouldn't say whether a plea-bargain was involved in Montejo's decision. Attorney David Dziejowski didn't comment.
A hearing is scheduled Jan. 10 for Jason Bautista. His attorney Don Ronaldson would only say he was "working hard to be ready for the trial date."
The brothers allegedly strangled Jane Bautista in their Riverside apartment, then continued their routines for more than a week even though her severed head and hands were stored in a closet in the apartment. Both pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges.
During a preliminary hearing, a detective testified that the brothers had discussed killing their mother a year before her body was found at the bottom of a ravine in an Orange County portion of the forest.
The older brother allegedly told police he and his brother had killed and dismembered their mother and he had gotten the idea from an episode of "The Sopranos." Jane Bautista's head and hands were found in a duffel bag in a closet in the family apartment.
Santa Ana, California - A Riverside teenager charged with his older half brother in "The Sopranos"-inspired decapitation killing of their mother may testify against the now-22-year-old brother.
The headless and handless body of Jane Bautista, 41, was dumped in the Cleveland National Forest two years ago and the case captured national headlines because the brothers said the gruesome killing was inspired by an episode of "The Sopranos."
Matthew B. Montejo, who was a 15-year-old sophomore at Martin Luther King High School when he was arrested in January 2003, could be a key witness in the case against his half brother Jason V. Bautista, a prosecutor said.
"He may wind up testifying," Orange County Deputy District Attorney Michael Murray said. He wouldn't say whether a plea-bargain was involved in Montejo's decision. Attorney David Dziejowski didn't comment.
A hearing is scheduled Jan. 10 for Jason Bautista. His attorney Don Ronaldson would only say he was "working hard to be ready for the trial date."
The brothers allegedly strangled Jane Bautista in their Riverside apartment, then continued their routines for more than a week even though her severed head and hands were stored in a closet in the apartment. Both pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges.
During a preliminary hearing, a detective testified that the brothers had discussed killing their mother a year before her body was found at the bottom of a ravine in an Orange County portion of the forest.
The older brother allegedly told police he and his brother had killed and dismembered their mother and he had gotten the idea from an episode of "The Sopranos." Jane Bautista's head and hands were found in a duffel bag in a closet in the family apartment.